Enclosures for pools and the like

ABSTRACT

A plurality of support members for the pool enclosure extend upwardly from a foundation and then curve out over the pool and are fastened at their opposite ends to a steel gutter which in turn is secured to the eave of a house. Each support member, except the end two, includes a pair of tracks on either side such that a flexible, insulated panel can be slidably supported between a pair of adjacent support members in one of said tracks, while a second flexible, insulated panel can be supported between adjacent support members and the second track. Each end support member includes a pair of tracks only on one side, pointing inwardly.

United States Patent [4 1 May 16,1972

Lankheet [54] ENCLOSURES FOR POOLS AND THE LIKE [72] Inventor: Jay A.Lankheet, Holland, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Glamour Pools Company, Holland, Mich.

[22] Filed: Sept. 22, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 74,400

[52] US. Cl ..4/l72.12,4/172.11, 52/67, 52/68, 160/113, 160/201, 256/1[51] Int. Cl. ..E04h 3/16, E04h 3/18 [58] Field ofSearch.....4/l72,172.12,172.13,l72.14, 4/172.ll, 173, 171;49/40; 52/64, 67,68; 160/113, 114,115, 201;256/1 Primary Examiner-Henry K. ArtisAttorneyPrice, Heneveld, Huizenga & Cooper [57] ABSTRACT A plurality ofsupport members for the pool enclosure extend upwardly from a foundationand then curve out over the pool and are fastened at their opposite endsto a steel gutter which in turn is secured to the eave of a house. Eachsupport member, except the end two, includes a pair of tracks on eitherside such that a flexible, insulated panel can be slidably supportedbetween a pair of adjacent support members in one of said tracks, whilea second flexible, insulated panel can be supported between adjacentsupport members and the second track. Each end support member includes apair of tracks only on one side, pointing inwardly.

20 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAIENIEUMM 16 1972 SHEET 3 OF 4 FIG.4

FIG. 5

FIG.6

PATENTEDHAY 16 1972 3,662,410

sum u [1F 4 BACKGROUND This invention relates to a pool enclosure whichis convertible in nature such that the pool can serve both as an indoorpool and an outdoor pool.

One type of pool enclosure which is currently available for this purposecomprises an inflatable plastic dome. However, this structure does notfacilitate ready conversion of the pool from an indoor to an outdoorpool. Rather, if the pool is to be converted, assembly or disassembly ofthe inflated dome is a major operation. Thus, these structures areuseful only for converting the pool at the beginning and at the end ofthe summer. The inflated dome structures suffer additional defects, suchas the fact that they deflate when punctured. Additionally, they cannotbe secured directly to a house such that the pool is readily accessiblewithout exposure to undesirable elements.

A second type of structure which is currently available utilizes movableroof panels such that the roof can be partially opened by sliding onesection of panel on top of another. Unfortunately, the area covered bythe roof of such a structure has to be much larger than the area of thepool in order for the roof to be completely opened above the pool. Inthe altemative, such an enclosure will have to be secured to the edge ofa house and means will have to be provided whereby the roof panels canbe slid out over the roof of the house.

An additional problem presented by such structures is the fact thatwater runs into the pool and pool area through spaces between the roofsections. This could be damaging to fumiture which one would normallyconsider safe to be placed in an indoor pool. In the winter time whenthe source of the water is melting snow, the dripping water could proveto be quite uncomfortable to swimmers within the pool enclosure.

The present invention provides a pool enclosure in which a frame for atop portion and at least one side portion thereof comprises a pluralityof support members disposed in parallel relationship to one another. Atleast two insulated, fiber glass panels are disposed between andsupported at their sides by a pair of adjacent support members. One ofthe panels encloses generally the side portion and the other enclosesgenerally the top portion of the pool enclosure. Means are providedwhereby one of the panels can be moved past the other such that theenclosure can be opened to the air.

Thus, the present invention provides a readily convertible poolenclosure such that the pool can be converted from an indoor to anoutdoor pool as frequently as might be desired. Because the enclosingpanels are flexible, they can readily be slid from the top portion tothe side portion or vice versa. Either the top or the side of theenclosure can be opened to the air.

Insulation is provided between the panel members and the support membersto provide protection from the elements. Because the flexible panelsthemselves are insulated, warmer temperatures within the pool enclosurecan be readily maintained. Further protection from the elements isprovided by constructing the support members such that they act as waterrun-off gutters.

Finally, the enclosure of this invention can be connected directly to ahouse such that the pool area can be contiguous with a family room orthe like. Thus, a person can move from the house to the pool areawithout being exposed to the elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects and advantagesof this invention can be seen by reference to the specification and tothe appended drawings wherein:

FIG. I shows a cross section of the pool enclosure, pool and a portionof an adjacent house;

F IG. 2 is a perspective view from the inside of the enclosure;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the enclosure secured to a house;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lV-IV of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a support member with various typesof panels being shown supported thereby;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross section taken along VI-VI of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 shows an alternative panel construction;

FIG. 8 shows an alternative panel construction; and

FIG. 9 shows an alternative panel construction.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that thisinvention comprises generally a pool 1, a house 2 adjacent thereto, andan enclosure 10. Support members 30 of enclosure 10 are supported attheir base on footing 11 and are secured to house 2 by means of gutter20. Each end of enclosure 10 is closed by end assembly 40 and the topand sides are enclosed by panels 50.

Referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that gutter 20 is generallyU-shaped in cross section. It is of a heavy steel construction such thatit will provide a rigid support for support members 30. On one side itis bolted into the eave of house 2 by means of bolts 21. Referring toFIG. 3, it will be seen that gutter 20 is sufiiciently long that itextends the width of pool enclosure 10. In this case, this is alsoapproximately the width of the house 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, it will be seen that each support member 30extends upwardly from footing l1 and then has a curved portion 38 suchthat it extends out over the top of pool 1. Support member 30 isconstructed such that one panel member 50 being supported thereby can bemoved past the other panel member 50 being supported thereby asindicated by arrows A and B. The construction which facilitates thismovement can be seen more clearly by reference to FIG. 5. Each supportmember 30 comprises vertical leg 32 capped by horizontal crosspiece 31,both being elongated such that they extend the length of support 30.Extending outwardly from each side of the middle of leg 32 is anelongated flange 33. Extending upwardly from the end of each flange 33is an elongated lip 34 which is relatively short in height. Similarly,such a flange 33 and lip 34 arrangement extends outwardly from each sideof the bottom of leg 32. Thus, each support member 30 comprises a pairof tracks on either side, one disposed above the other, for supportingpanels 50, 60 or 70. An exception to this is that the end supportmembers 30 have a pair of tracks only on their insides.

Referring to FIG. 3, it will be seen that a plurality of support members30 are disposed in parallel relationship with their bases being securedto footing 11 and their top ends being secured to gutter member 20.Referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that the upper end of each supportmember 30 is provided with a downwardly extending flange 35 tofacilitate its connection to gutter 20. A bolt 37 is passed throughflange 35, a weather shield 36 and the outer side of U-shaped gutter 20,and is then secured by a nut 39. Weather shield 36 helps prevent waterfrom flowing from gutter 20 into the tracks formed by flanges 33 andlips 34.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it will be seen that end assembly 40comprises a conventional partition. Typically, it can include aplurality of panels 41 secured to studs 43. A pair of sliding glassdoors 42 are also provided. Each of the two end assemblies 40 is securedto the outermost support member 30 located at either end of enclosure10.

The panels 50 are each constructed from a pair of corrugated, flexibleplastic sheets, preferably fiberglass. The basic panel 50 is shown incross section in FIG. 6, being supported by a lip 34 of support assembly30. As can be seen, the two corrugated sheets are joined such that onesheet forms a mirror image of the other. Thus, the corrugations 52oppose the corrugations 54 such that air pockets and interfaces 55 areformed therebetween. The sheets are joined in the interface areas 55 bymeans of glue or the like.

The corrugations 52 and 54 provide lateral rigidity for the panels 50.The air pockets between corrugations 52 and 54 provide insulation forpanel 50. Additionally, because each sheet is flexible, the non joinedcorrugations 52 and 54 provide sufficient longitudinal flexibility thateach panel 50 will bend sufficiently to pass through the curved portions38 of support members 30. This enables a top enclosing panel 50 to beslidably moved completely out of the top area and down to the side area,or vice versa.

ALTERNATIVE PANEL CONSTRUCT IONS FIGS. 5 and 8 show slightly modifiedversions of panel 50. In FIG. 5, on the bottom right-hand track, it canbe seen that an insulating strip 57 is secured to the top of panel 50 atthe side edge thereof. Insulating strip 57 can be made of any suitablematerial such as rubber or a closed-cell urethane foam. The material ispreferably flexible such that it too will allow panel 50 to bend andthereby pass through the curved portion 38 of support member 30.

Also in FIG. 5, and in FIG. 8, panel 50 is shown not only with aninsulating strip 57, but also with reinforcing rods 56 being positionedwithin some of the air pockets between the corrugations 52 and 54; Eachof these rods 56 extends the width of panel 50 such that it providescomplete support between adjacent support members 30. This providesreinforcement for the panels 50 in the event of snow build-up or thelike.

In FIG. 5 on the upper right-hand tracks, a wheel assembly is positionedat the side edge of panel 50. A plug and axle assembly 59 is insertedinto pipe 56, and a wheel 58 turns on said axle. Wheel 58 rides onflange 33 and is prevented from rolling off by lip 34.

FIG. 7 shows an alternative panel construction 60. Basically, thiscomprises a sheet of flexible material such as fiber glass or the like.It includes a plurality of non-planar surfaces 61 which act to rigidifypanel 60 across its width, that is laterally. Additionally, panel 60includes a plurality of tubularshaped deviations 62 into which areinforcing pipe 63 can be inserted. This provides reinforcementcomparable to pipes 56 of panel 50 of FIG. 8.

While panel 60 is rigid laterally, a flexible area 65 is providedbetween the non-planar irregularities in what would otherwise be a flatsheet. Thus, panel 60 is free to flex and bend in these areas 65 suchthat panel 60 will pass through the curved portion of support members30. In other words, it has longitudinal flexibility.

Panel 60 shown in FIG. 7 is at least partially insulated by sealing offthe undersides of non-planar surfaces 61. This is accomplished bysecuring flat sealing members 66 to the underside of panel 60. Eachsealing member 66 is just slightly larger in area than the area of theopening formed by non-planar surface 61 such that it will extendslightly beyond that opening so that an edge is provided whereby member61 can be secured by means of glue or the like to the underside of panel60. Member 66 is preferably formed of the same material as panel 60.Finally, an insulating strip 64 is secured to the top side of panel 60at the side edge thereof. This serves the same function as insulatingstrip 57 shown on panel 50in FIGS. 8 and 5.

FIG. 9 discloses panel assembly 70 which is another altemative to panel50. As in panel 60, panel 70 comprises a plurality of non-planarsurfaces 72 to provide lateral rigidity to panel 70. The planar area 74between adjacent non-planar surfaces 72 extends the width of panel 70such that panel 70 is flexible in planar areas 74 and can be bent aroundthe curved portion of a support member 30. Thus, like panels 50 and 60,panel 70 also has lateral rigidity and longitudinal flexibility. Panel70 also includes a sealing strip 76 which is comparable in function tosealing strips 64 and 57.

In FIG. 5, it can be seen that panel 70 also includes a downwardlyextending tab 75 which is secured to the bottom thereof and which islocated at each side edge of panel 70. Downwardly extending tabs 75engage lip 34 should panel 70 begin to slide off of support member 30.Thus,positive engagement is provided between panel 70 and support member30. Comparable tab means 75 could be provided on any of the otheralternative panel assemblies.

OPERATION In FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that one of the panel members50 has been moved from the top portion of enclosure 10 to the sideportion thereof by sliding it past another panel 50. Because panel 50 isflexible where it is not joined together, i.e. at corrugations 52 and54, it is free to flex and bend through its length and thereby passthrough the curved portions of support members 30.

In a similar fashion, the entire top of pool enclosure 10 could beopened to the air. Furthermore, it will be seen that the sides of thepool are completely enclosed, thereby eliminating the necessity of anadditional enclosing fence. The ends are enclosed by end assemblies 40,one side is enclosed by the house 2, and the fourth side is enclosed bythe panels 50.

On the other hand, the side of enclosure 10 can be opened merely bysliding the side panels 50 upwardly into the top portions of supportmembers 30. Thus, if the sun were low in the sky as in the morning orevening, the side of enclosure 10 could be opened rather than the top toallow the sun to shine in. One might also find it desirable to open theside rather than the top if it were raining. This would provideprotection from the rain while leaving the pool area exposed to freshair.

This relative movement of enclosing panels can also be achieved withalternative panels 60 and 70. All of the altemative embodiment panelsare provided with lateral rigidity and longitudinal flexibility. Theformer provides the panels with necessary structural strength. Thelatter allows them to be moved through the curved portions 38 of supportmembers 30.

The lateral rigidity of the panels prevents them from collapsing undertheir own weight and under the weight of light snows and the like.Additional reinforcement, such as pipes 56, can be provided as insuranceagainst heavier snows.

Because of the lip 34 on flange 33, any water which drips into supportmember 30 will run down flange 33 and out of support member 30 atfooting 11. Thus, water is prevented from running off the top panels 50and into the pool area.

In modified panel 50 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8 and in alternative panels60 and 70, an insulation strip, 57, 64 or 76, respectively, has beenadded to the side edge of the panel 50, 60 or 70. As can be seen in FIG.5, this insulation strip provides a seal between the panel and thesupport member 30.

Additionally, panel 50 itself is an insulated panel by means of the airpockets formed between corrugations 52 and 54. Panel 60 is at leastpartially insulated by the air pockets formed between non-planarsurfaces 61 and sealing member 66.

In alternative panel 70, a plurality of lip engaging tabs 75 areprovided on the underside of the panel such that it is held in positiveengagement with support member 30. Thus, if panel begins to slide off ofsupport member 30, tabs will engage lip 34 and thereby prevent thedisengagement of panel 70 from support member 30.

In FIG. 5, panel assembly 50 is provided with wheel means 58 such thatit rolls much more easily on flange 33. Thus, enclosure 10 is made evenmore readily convertible.

Accordingly, it can be seen that this invention provides a unique poolenclosure which is readily convertible such that the pool can be madeinto an indoor pool or outdoor pool as frequently as this might bedesirable. Flexible panels are provided such that they can be readilymoved from the top portion of the enclosure to the side portion or viceversa. The panels can be insulated so as to provide further protectionfrom the elements. The flanges which are provided on support members 30act not only to support the panels 50, but also to drain water frompanels 50 without allowing that water to fall into the pool area.

Finally, as is shown in the preferred embodiment, this pool enclosure 10can readily be secured to a house. In the alternative, it will beappreciated that a completely separate pool enclosure could beconstructed using the principles of this invention, as for example byproviding support members which extend upwardly from the base, curve outover the top and then curve back downwardly to the base again.Additionally, it will be further appreciated by one skilled in the artthat the above description is merely a preferred embodiment of theinvention and that many alterations and changes can be made thereofwithout departing from the broader aspects and spirit of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows.

1. An enclosure for a receptacle such as a swimming pool comprising: aframe for a top portion of the enclosure, extending out over a pool areaand for at least one side portion thereof, extending upwardly to saidtop portion, said frame comprising a plurality of support membersdisposed in spaced parallel relationship to one another; at least twopanels being disposed between and supported at their sides by a pair ofadjacent support members; one of said panels enclosing generally saidside portion and the other of said panels enclosing generally said topportion; at least one of said panels being generally flexible; meanswhereby one of said panels can be moved past the other such that saidenclosure can be opened to the air.

2. The enclosure of claim 1 in which said means whereby one panel can bemoved past the other comprises: each of said support members comprisinga separate track for each of said panels; one of said panels beingsupported at its sides in one track of each of said adjacent supportmembers and the other panel being supported at its sides in anothertrack of each of said adjacent support members.

3. The enclosure of claim 1 in which each of said support members alsoincludes a gutter means whereby water draining from said top paneldrains into said gutter means and down said support member.

4. The enclosure of claim 2 in which each of said tracks comprises: aflange extending laterally towards said adjacent support member and thenextending generally upwardly to form a lip on said flange.

5. The enclosure of claim 4 in which: each of said panels includes catchmeans extending downwardly from its side edge and engaging the inside ofsaid lip such that said panel is prevented from disengaging said track.

6. The enclosure of claim 4 in which: each of said panels includesroller means being operably connected to each side edge of said panel,said roller means being supported on said flange and being preventedfrom sliding off said flange by said lip.

7. The enclosure of claim 2 in which said panels are reinforced by atleast one elongated reinforcing member extending the width of saidpanel.

8. The enclosure of claim 7 in which a wheel is operably connected toeach end of said elongated reinforcing members and is supported by saidtrack.

9. The enclosure of claim 2 in which: said one of said panels which canbe moved past the other comprises means for providing said panel withlateral rigidity and means for providing said panel with sufficientlongitudinal flexibility that it can be moved past said other panel.

10. The panel of claim 9 in which said means for providing lateralrigidity comprises a plurality of non-planar surfaces in said panel;said means for providing longitudinal flexibility comprises saidnon-planar surfaces being joined by flexible joints extending the widthof said panel between said adjacent support members.

11. The enclosure of claim 10 which includes a plurality of air pocketsfor insulating said panel; said air pockets being formed at least inpart by said non-planar surfaces.

12. The enclosure of claim 2 in which each of said panels comprises: apair of flexible plastic sheets, at least one of said sheets beingnon-planar and having irregularities extending generally the width ofsaid sheet between said adjacent support members; said sheets beinginterfaced at various intervals such that air pockets are formed betweensaid interfaced areas because of said irregularities; means for joiningsaid sheets in said interfaced areas.

13. The enclosure of claim 2 in which: each of said panels comprises apair of flexible, corrugated sheets, said sheets being joined togethersuch that said corrugations combine to form air spaces between saidsheets and interfaces between said sheets.

14. An enclosure for a receptacle such as a swimming pool comprising aplurality of support members defining a roof support, each supportmember having a curved portion; a plurality of panels being slidablymounted between adjacent support members; each of said panels comprisingmeans for providing said panel with lateral rigidity, and means forproviding said panels with sufficient longitudinal flexibility that saidpanels can be moved through said curved portions of said support member;means whereby one of said panels mounted between adjacent supportmembers can be moved pass another panel mounted between the sameadjacent support members.

15. The enclosure of claim 14 in which said means for providing lateralrigidity comprises a plurality of non-planar surfaces in said panel;said means for providing longitudinal flexibility comprises saidnon-planar surfaces being joined by flexible joints extending the widthof said panel between said adjacent support members.

16. The enclosure of claim 14 in which said means for providing saidpanels with lateral rigidity comprises said panel being comprised of apair of flexible sheets, at least one of said sheets being non-planarand having irregularities extending generally the width of said sheetbetween said adjacent support members; said sheets being interfaced atvarious intervals such that air pockets are formed between saidinterfaced areas because of said irregularities; means for joining saidsheets in said interfaced areas.

17. The enclosure of claim 14 in which said means for providing lateralrigidity and longitudinal flexibility comprises: each of said panelscomprising a pair of flexible, corrugated sheets, said sheets beingjoined together such that said corrugations combine to fonn air spacesbetween said sheets and interfaces between said sheets.

18. An enclosure for a receptacle such as a swimming pool comprising aplurality of support members, each having a curved portion; a pluralityof panels being slidably mounted between adjacent support members; eachof said panels comprising means for providing said panel with lateralrigidity, and means for providing said panels with sufficientlongitudinal flexibility that said panels can be moved through saidcurved portions of said support members; said means for providinglateral rigidity including a plurality of non-planar surfaces in saidpanel; said means for providing longitudinal flexibility including saidnon-planar surfaces being joined by generally flexible, generally planarsurfaces extending the width of said panel between said adjacent supportmembers.

19. An enclosure for a receptacle such as a swimming pool comprising aplurality of support members, each having a curved portion; a pluralityof panels being slidably mounted between adjacent support members; eachof said panels comprising means for providing said panel with lateralrigidity, and means for providing said panels with sufficientlongitudinal flexibility that said panels can be moved through saidcurved portions of said support members; said means for providing saidpanels with lateral rigidity including said panel being comprised of apair of flexible sheets, at least one of said sheets being non-planarand having irregularities extending generally the width of said sheetbetween said adjacent support members; said sheets being interfaced atvarious intervals such that air pockets are formed between saidinterfaced areas because of said irregularities; means for joining saidsheets in said interfaced areas.

20. An enclosure for a receptacle such as a swimming pool comprising aplurality of support members, each having a curved portion; a pluralityof panels being slidably mounted between adjacent support members; eachof said panels comprising means for providing said panel with lateralrigidity, and means for providing said panels with sufficientlongitudinal flexibility that said panels can be moved through saidcurved portions of said support members; said means for providinglateral rigidity and longitudinal flexibility including each of saidpanels comprising a pair of flexible, corrugated sheets, said sheetsbeing joined together such that said corrugations combine to form airspaces between said sheets and interfaces between said sheets.

1. An enclosure for a receptacle such as a swimming pool comprising: aframe for a top portion of the enclosure, extending out over a pool areaand for at least one side portion thereof, extending upwardly to saidtop portion, said frame comprising a plurality of support membersdisposed in spaced parallel relationship to one another; at least twopanels being disposed between and supported at their sides by a pair ofadjacent support members; one of said panels enclosing generally saidside portion and the other of said panels enclosing generally said topportion; at least one of said panels being generally flexible; meanswhereby one of said panels can be moved past the other such that saidenclosure can be opened to the air.
 2. The enclosure of claim 1 in whichsaid means whereby one panel can be moved past the other comprises: eachof said support members comprising a separate track for each of saidpanels; one of said panels being supported at its sides in one track ofeach of said adjacent support members and the other panel beingsupported at its sides in another track of each of said adjacent supportmembers.
 3. The enclosure of claim 1 in which each of said supportmembers also includes a gutter means whereby water draining from saidtop panel drains into said gutter means and down said support member. 4.The enclosure of claim 2 in which each of said tracks comprises: aflange extending laterally towards said adjacent support member and thenextending generally upwardly to form a lip on said flange.
 5. Theenclosure of claim 4 in which: each of said panels includes catch meansextending downwardly from its side edge and engaging the inside of saidlip such that said panel is prevented from disengaging said track. 6.The enclosure of claim 4 iN which: each of said panels includes rollermeans being operably connected to each side edge of said panel, saidroller means being supported on said flange and being prevented fromsliding off said flange by said lip.
 7. The enclosure of claim 2 inwhich said panels are reinforced by at least one elongated reinforcingmember extending the width of said panel.
 8. The enclosure of claim 7 inwhich a wheel is operably connected to each end of said elongatedreinforcing members and is supported by said track.
 9. The enclosure ofclaim 2 in which: said one of said panels which can be moved past theother comprises means for providing said panel with lateral rigidity andmeans for providing said panel with sufficient longitudinal flexibilitythat it can be moved past said other panel.
 10. The panel of claim 9 inwhich said means for providing lateral rigidity comprises a plurality ofnon-planar surfaces in said panel; said means for providing longitudinalflexibility comprises said non-planar surfaces being joined by flexiblejoints extending the width of said panel between said adjacent supportmembers.
 11. The enclosure of claim 10 which includes a plurality of airpockets for insulating said panel; said air pockets being formed atleast in part by said non-planar surfaces.
 12. The enclosure of claim 2in which each of said panels comprises: a pair of flexible plasticsheets, at least one of said sheets being non-planar and havingirregularities extending generally the width of said sheet between saidadjacent support members; said sheets being interfaced at variousintervals such that air pockets are formed between said interfaced areasbecause of said irregularities; means for joining said sheets in saidinterfaced areas.
 13. The enclosure of claim 2 in which: each of saidpanels comprises a pair of flexible, corrugated sheets, said sheetsbeing joined together such that said corrugations combine to form airspaces between said sheets and interfaces between said sheets.
 14. Anenclosure for a receptacle such as a swimming pool comprising aplurality of support members defining a roof support, each supportmember having a curved portion; a plurality of panels being slidablymounted between adjacent support members; each of said panels comprisingmeans for providing said panel with lateral rigidity, and means forproviding said panels with sufficient longitudinal flexibility that saidpanels can be moved through said curved portions of said support member;means whereby one of said panels mounted between adjacent supportmembers can be moved pass another panel mounted between the sameadjacent support members.
 15. The enclosure of claim 14 in which saidmeans for providing lateral rigidity comprises a plurality of non-planarsurfaces in said panel; said means for providing longitudinalflexibility comprises said non-planar surfaces being joined by flexiblejoints extending the width of said panel between said adjacent supportmembers.
 16. The enclosure of claim 14 in which said means for providingsaid panels with lateral rigidity comprises said panel being comprisedof a pair of flexible sheets, at least one of said sheets beingnon-planar and having irregularities extending generally the width ofsaid sheet between said adjacent support members; said sheets beinginterfaced at various intervals such that air pockets are formed betweensaid interfaced areas because of said irregularities; means for joiningsaid sheets in said interfaced areas.
 17. The enclosure of claim 14 inwhich said means for providing lateral rigidity and longitudinalflexibility comprises: each of said panels comprising a pair offlexible, corrugated sheets, said sheets being joined together such thatsaid corrugations combine to form air spaces between said sheets andinterfaces between said sheets.
 18. An enclosure for a receptacle suchas a swimming pool comprising a plurality of support members, eachhaving a curved portion; a plurality of panels being slidably moUntedbetween adjacent support members; each of said panels comprising meansfor providing said panel with lateral rigidity, and means for providingsaid panels with sufficient longitudinal flexibility that said panelscan be moved through said curved portions of said support members; saidmeans for providing lateral rigidity including a plurality of non-planarsurfaces in said panel; said means for providing longitudinalflexibility including said non-planar surfaces being joined by generallyflexible, generally planar surfaces extending the width of said panelbetween said adjacent support members.
 19. An enclosure for a receptaclesuch as a swimming pool comprising a plurality of support members, eachhaving a curved portion; a plurality of panels being slidably mountedbetween adjacent support members; each of said panels comprising meansfor providing said panel with lateral rigidity, and means for providingsaid panels with sufficient longitudinal flexibility that said panelscan be moved through said curved portions of said support members; saidmeans for providing said panels with lateral rigidity including saidpanel being comprised of a pair of flexible sheets, at least one of saidsheets being non-planar and having irregularities extending generallythe width of said sheet between said adjacent support members; saidsheets being interfaced at various intervals such that air pockets areformed between said interfaced areas because of said irregularities;means for joining said sheets in said interfaced areas.
 20. An enclosurefor a receptacle such as a swimming pool comprising a plurality ofsupport members, each having a curved portion; a plurality of panelsbeing slidably mounted between adjacent support members; each of saidpanels comprising means for providing said panel with lateral rigidity,and means for providing said panels with sufficient longitudinalflexibility that said panels can be moved through said curved portionsof said support members; said means for providing lateral rigidity andlongitudinal flexibility including each of said panels comprising a pairof flexible, corrugated sheets, said sheets being joined together suchthat said corrugations combine to form air spaces between said sheetsand interfaces between said sheets.